Then I need your help. I want to buy two 256 memory sticks for a Dell Dimension L933r. My budget is $80 max for both. I’ve been trying to do my homework, visited crucial.com and various other sites that guarantee a perfect match for Dell, but all the recommended sticks cost at least $60 or more each.
So, I wrote down model numbers, took notes on the specifications, tracked down my motherboard (I think), lurked on message boards, and googled a lot. I’m enjoying the learning experience but I’m confused on a bunch of points.
1)What’s the difference between low and high density, and single and double sided RAM? And how do you tell the difference? Some of the specifications on the sticks have this info and others don’t. According to some message board postings, Dells are picky about this. But Intel say the motherboard will take both. What’s the real story?
2)This helpful site that says that either PC100 or PC133 will work, but all of the websites I visited recommended only PC100, except for crucial.com . Also the crucial.com scan gave my FSB speed as 133MHz. Doesn’t this mean I need PC133?
I’ve found two possibilities that fit my budget - this and this . What do you think?
I guess what I am hoping for is for someone to come along and say “Yeah, I upgraded that exact same model and I bought this type of bargain RAM and it worked great!” I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Download and run CPU-Z and see what it says for your memory speed. I have had numerous older Dell Optiplexes that will only run with true PC100. PC133 is supposed to be downward compatible but for these machines it didn’t work. Some manufacturers will label their PC133 as PC100, so if your current memory is PC100 be careful.
We use Dell desktops at work. Back when we upgraded to Windows XP, we needed to add extra memory to most of our machines in order to support it.
Our machines originally had PC100 memory. When we were upgrading, PC133 RAM was actually less expensive than PC100. According to the specs, the machines supported both, so we bought sticks of 256 MB PC133 RAM. The problem was that these were “high density” chips. They has 8 memory chips, all on one side of the stick. 256 MB/8 meant that each chip was 32 MB. Our machines did not support 32 MB chips, so would not recognize the RAM. Our choices were to go with 128 MB modules (with 8 x 16 MB chips), or use “low density” modules which had 16 x 16 MB chips, 8 on each side.
There was no documentation concerning the high vs low density chip issue; Dell support only confirmed the problem after we had already figured it out from trial and error.
Regarding your two purchasing possibilities: I’ve never heard of Mushkin, but Kingston is a reputable memory vendor. I have used Kingston memory on quite a few occasions and have never had problems. I do usually buy their ValueRam series as opposed to their model-specific SKUs. Just make sure you don’t get bit by the density issue. If you call Dell support and ask them, they should be able to tell you if your machine supports 32 MB chips, which these have.
We use Optiplexes at work (for reasons which none of us can fathom). Back in the fall, they bought new RAM for three of us, to bring us up to 512K, but it doesn’t seem to have made a bit of difference. It still takes half an hour on the Dell to do what takes me 10 minutes at home, also with 512K.
Not sure if this is any help, but if you’re interested…
I have 2 sticks of 128Mb PC133 RAM sitting here, and if you want them they’re yours. I know it’s only half what you were looking for, but i thought i’d offer them anyway.
Now for the caveats:[ul][li]They are out of a computer that died due to a bad power supply almost two years ago. I have no idea if they are still good.[/li][li]While they are both PC133, one has four chips per side, while the other has eight.[/li][li]They are different brands. The one with four chips per side is SpecTek, and the one with eight chips per side is ViGOUR. They certainly are not top-of-the-line brands.[/li][/ul]
Anyway, let me know if you’re interested.
Also, if any experts think it would be a bad idea for the OP to accept my offer, please speak up.
Assuming you are adding RAM, rather than completely replacing your existing RAM: check what speed you have in your machine now.
In many machines (like mine, also Dell), memory will run at the speed of the slowest stick. So if you have PC100, and you add some PC133, it will work, but at PC100 speed. Then you’ve wasted money buying faster memory than you can take advantage of. (Assuming that the faster memory is more expensive. That’s usually true, but sometimes supply-and-demand might result in faster being cheaper.)
IME Dell PCs can be particular when it comes to memory. Go to Crucial and buy it there. I know this will exceed your budget, but how much is your time worth?
BTW If your CPU runs at 933 MHz, your FSB is 133 (933=133x7)